Self-indexing loose-leaf ledger or book.



No. 767,290. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. S. B. KIRTLEY. SELF INDEXING LOOSELEAP LEDGER OR BOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19 1903.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

71 7s 75 77 79 8]. as a5 87 83 91 93 95 97 F1 F El fier- F Fl Fl Fol FmFr Fr Foe F F FalFe F: F m F. F Fo'fr Fr Fr F F F 29AM amm- LAW 5 624%WWPM M/FW 417 No. 767,290. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. S. B. KIRTLEY, SELFINDEXING LOOSE LEAF LEDGER 0R BOOK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19,1903. N0 MODEL. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a a 2 5 i Fa F F2 F21 F Fl FIE Fol Fro. Fr F16 F Fe Fe F F F0 Fr 5' Fr FF F F F F W 6% 63 fcmzb,

UNTTEn STATES Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT @EEEJE.

SELF-INDEXING LOOSE-LEAF LEDGER OR BOOK.-

BYECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1v 0. 767,290, dated August9, 1904.

Application filed May 19,1903. Serial No. 157,799. @To model.) H s Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIMEON B. KIRTLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at J efferson City, Cole county, State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Indexing Loose-LeafLedger's or Books, of which the following is a specification containinga full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings. forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to self-indexing looseleaf ledgers or books.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved system oforiginal and transfer loose-leaf self-indexing ledgers or books in whichthe original may be kept practically of a given size orthickness and inwhich improved means shall be provided for removing the original leavesfrom the original ledger when filled and replacing the same by duplicateleaves from the transfer-ledger and which duplicates may themselves bedetached from their places in the original book after being filled andthey in turn supplanted by duplicate leaves as often as required.

The invention consists in the combination of two or more ledgers orbooks of the construction recited in the claims and one of which is theoriginal or current ledger and another one of which is a transfer-ledgerand each of which has a series of cut-away loose leaves for receivingsuitable identification characters upon the exposed portions thereof.

The invention further consists in the details of constructionhereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the original ledgeror book. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a series of loose leaves of theoriginal ledger. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a series of loose leaves ofthe transfer-ledger. Fig. t shows the arrangement of the transferledgerleaves afterthe sheet has been removed from its cut-away index and readyto be placed in the transfer-ledger. Fig. 5 is a detail View of aspecial or extra sheet for the original ledger.

1 indicates the original ledger, and the transfer-ledger is indicated bythe numeral 2 and is more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and l.

Each ledger is preferably indexed alphabetically, as shown, a suitablenumber of pages being assigned to each letter of the alphabet, thenumber assigned to each individual letter being in proportion to thefrequency of its occurrence and also in proportion to the number ofpages in the book. Those letters which are of frequent occurrence, asinitial letters, are assigned to a greater number of pages than thosewhich are of rarer occurrence.

The first page of each series of pages assigned to each individualletter is used as an index-page, and each of these index-pages isprovided with an index-tab 3,secured, as usual, in any suitable mannerto the edge of the sheet and which tabs of course provide also a meansby which any individual letter may be turned to with facility at anypoint within the ledger, or in place of said tabs 3 I may make use ofany other ordinary alphabetical index.

The upper end of the second page allotted to each initial letter is cutaway, as indicated by 4:, thereby making a rectangular excision whichextends from a given line to the righthand edge of the page. Thisexposes to view the sheet next beneath it, and which is also cut away inthe same manner, as indicated by 5, which, however, begins at a suitabledistance to the right of the preceding cut-away, thereby exposing toview a part of the said sheet, and upon this exposed portion ispreferably printed, as shown, the first, second, and third letters ofthe names whose accounts are assigned to that particular page. Eachsucceeding sheet assigned to each particular letter, as an initialletter, is in a like manner cut away, the cut-away in each sheetbeginning at a suitable distance to the right of that in the precedingsheet.

Each of the pages is preferably numbered consecutively, as shown, justbeneath the cutaway, and the index at the top of each page is alsonumbered the same as the sheet which carries it; but in many cases Iprefer to omit as unnecessary the numbers at the top of the cut-awaypages.

In Fig. l the ledger is shown opened at the index-letter F, the firstpage (7 0) being full size and devoid of any out-away. The arrangementof the numbered cut-aways exposes to view each alternate page of thebook. For exan'iple, the ledger shown in Fig. 1. is opened at page 71,which the lirst page-number ex posed to view on the cut-away sheet. Thesecond page is 73. the third 75, and so on through the entire number ofpages allotted to the letter F? At the top of each cut-away sheet areplaced the letters which may occur as the first, second, and thirdletters in names having the letter F as an initial, the letters beingplaced in their alphabetical order. For example, the letter r is offrequent occur rence as the second letter in names beginning with F, anda is often the third letter. Accordingly within the blank space beneaththe page-number and at the right of the initial F are placed the lettersr, ra, &c., which may occur as the second and third letters of names, asshown on page 87. Letters which do not often occur as the third letterof names are omitted from the sheet as printed, but may be added by theuser with a pen. For instance, the letter y does not often occur as thethird letter, and so it is not shown, but may be written after Fr onpage 91 to index any name begii'ming with Fry. W hen the second andthird letters cannot be anticipated, the initial letter only is printedon the exposed cut-away pages, as shown on pages 73, 77, 79, &c.

VJhen it is desired to turn to any name beginning with F, the sheetcarrying the index-tab F is raised, which exposes to view the initial,second, and third letters of the name and the account can be quicklyfound by one movement of the hand.

The sheets of the transfer-ledger only are provided with a horizontalline of perforations 6 near their tops, which divides the cut-away indexfrom the body of the sheet.

IVhen an account in the original ledger has filled up the page or spaceallotted to it, I then proceed as follows: 'lloillustrate: \Vhen C. A.Falls account [ills page 71, which I have marked also Sheet 1 in theoriginal ledger, I remove said sheet from the original ledger andexchange it for a sheet of like number and index taken from thetransfer-ledger 2 and place the last-named sheet in the original ledgerand mark it Sheet 2, as shown in Fig. \Vhen (J. A. Falls account iillssaid sheet 2, I then detach the said sheet from. the index on the lineof perforations 6 and remove this sheet from the ledger and throw awayits detached index. After sheet 2 has been rcmovedfrom the originalledger,asdescribed,

it is then placed in the transfer-ledger on top of sheet 1 under theaccount of O. .A. Fall. bald detached sheet is shown clearly in Fig. A.In case C. A. Falls account extends over two sheets I provide a specialsheet, as indicated by the numeral 7, winch I have marked Sheet 3." Thissheet may be devoid of cut away and printing at the top, as shown inFig. 5, but is preferably provided with a number of short vertical ruledlines 8. These vertical lines 8 are provided as guides in making anysize cut-away that may be required, and the cut-away in the specialsheet 7 is made by cutting upon one of the lines 8 downwardly until thehorizontal line of perforations 6 is reached, and then the cut-awaywaste portion should be torn out in order to fit the space that heldsheet 2. As this sheet 7 is devoid of an index at the top, I place thesame index at its top as is on sheet 2namely, 71Fa, Fal. This specialsheet can be used for any other name of the alphabet and can be cutawayupon any of the lines 8, as previously described, to fit over thedesired sheet. I continue the operation of supplying additional specialsheets as the length of the account may require.

I do not limit myself to the specific indexletters shown herein, as itis obvious thatl may make use of any other identifying characters, suchas numerals, 0r vowels, or second and third letters alone, &c.

It may sometimes happen that all the pages have accounts upon them inthe original ledger, thereby leaving no space for other accounts thatmay subsequently occur under that letter. In such a case I insert thespecial sheet 7 under any desired name in order to carry the additionalaccounts. Of course the special sheet 7 when placed in the book in themanner last described should be cut back sufficiently far to expose theproper index-letters at the right of the vertical line 8, upon which ithas been cut away. For instance, there may occur another accountbeginning with Fra, and in such case the special sheet7 should have thecustomers name written upon it and then be placed on page 87 and cutaway, as described, so as to expose the index-letters Fra at the righthand of the cut-away line of such special sheet.

Relative to the manner of binding the sheets, I would state that I maymake use of any of the common temporary bindings now in use, and l haveonly shown perforations 9 for the passage of the binding devices 10 madeuse of in connecting the sheets to the backs 11.

I claim 1. A series of original loose self-indexing sheets having aportion of their edges cut away, and portions of said cut-away sheetsbeing exposed and having suitable identifying characters upon the saidexposed portions, in combination with an additional series of transfersheets interchangeable with said original sheets and provided withidentifying characters the same as those of the original sheets, andhaving detachable cut-away portions separated from their main bodies byperforated lines, substantially as specified.

2. A series of original loose self-indexing sheets having a portion oftheir edges cut away, and portions of said cut-away sheets being exposedand having suitable identifying characters upon the said exposedportions, in combination with an additional series of transfer sheetsinterchangeable with said original sheets and provided with identifyingcharacters the same as those of the original sheets, and havingdetachable cut-away portions separable from the bodies of thetransfer-sheets by a line of perforations, substantially as specified.

3. A series of original loose self-indexing sheets having a portion oftheir edges cut away, and portions of said cut-away sheets being exposedand having suitable identifying characters upon the said exposedportions, in combination with an additional series of transfer-sheetsinterchangeable with said original sheets and provided with identifyingcharacters the same as those of the original sheets, and havingdetachable cut-away portions separable from the bodies of thetransfer-sheets by a line of perforations; extra duplicate perforatedtransfer-sheets and temporary bindings for all the sheets, substantiallyas specified.

4:. A self-indexing ledger or book provided with interchangeable loosecut-away leaves for the letters of the alphabet, portions of the saidcut-away leaves being exposed, the initial letter with second and thirdletters of names placed on certain of said exposed portions, and theinitial letter placed only with the second letter on certain of saidexposed portions, and having a space .adjacent thereto for the insertionof the third letter of the names, and the initial being placed alone oncertain of said exposed portions and having spaces adjacent thereto forthe insertion of the second and third letters of the names which cannotbe anticipated, in combination with different identifying characters onthe exposed portions of the different cut-away leaves; an additionalseries of interchangeable loose cut-away sheets in a transfer ledger orbook, provided with identifying characters the same as those on theexposed portions of the original ledger and having a horizonal line ofperforations between the cut-away portions and bodies of the sheets,substantially'as described.

5. A self-indexing ledger or book provided with interchangeable loosecut-away leaves for the letters of the alphabet, portions of the saidcut-away leaves being exposed, the initial letter with second and thirdletters of names placed on certain of said exposed portions, and theinitial letter placed only with the second letter on certain of saidexposed portions, and having a space adjacent thereto for the insertionof the third letter of the names, and the initial being placed alone oncertain of said exposed portions and having spaces adjacent thereto forthe insertion of the second and third letters of the names which cannotbe anticipated, in combination with different identifying characters onthe exposed portions of the different cut-away leaves; an additionalseries of interchangeable loose cutaway sheets in a transfer ledger orbook, provided with identifying characters the same as those on theexposed portions of original ledger or book and having a horizontal lineof perforations between the cut-away portion and the bodies of thesheets, and extra insert blank sheets full size and having a horizontalline of perforations between the parts that are to be cut away, and thebodies of the sheets, substantially as described.

6. A self-indexing ledger or book provided with interchangeable loosecut-away leaves for the letters of the alphabet, portions of the saidcut-away leaves being exposed, the initial letter with second and thirdletters of names placed on certain of said exposed portions, and theinitial letter placed only with the second letter on certain of saidexposed portions, and having a space adjacent thereto for the insertionof the third letter of the names, and the initial being placed alone oncertain of said exposed portions and having spaces adjacent thereto forthe insertion of the second and third letters of the names which cannotbe anticipated, in combination with different identifying characters onthe exposed portions of the difierent cut-away leaves; an additionalseries of interchangeable loose cutawaysheets in a transfer ledger orbook, provided with identifying characters the same as those on theexposed portions of original ledger or book, and having a horizontalline of perforations between the cut-away portions and the bodies of thesheets, extra insert blank sheets full size having a horizontal line ofperforations between the parts that are to be cut away and the bodies ofthe sheets, and additional insert-sheets that are devoid of the indexand cut back so as to expose the index on sheet to right of its cut-awayportion, substantially as described.

7. Aself-indexing ledger or book, provided with interchangeable loosecut-away leaves for the letters of the alphabet, portions of the saidcut'awayleaves being exposed, the initial letter with second and thirdletters of names placed on certain of said exposed portions, and theinitial letter placed only with the second letter on certain of saidexposed portions, and having a space adjacent thereto for the insertionof the third letter of the names, and the initial being placed alone oncertain of said exposed portions and having spaces adjacent thereto forthe insertion of the second and third letters of names which cannot beanticipated,

different identifying characters on the exposed portions of thedifferent cut-away leaves; and an additional series of interchangeableloose cut-away sheets adapted to be located in a transfer ledger or bookand provided with leaves and identifying characters the same as those ofthe original ledger or book, in combination with a third series ofinsert blank sheets identical in size and shape with those previouslymentioned but devoid of an index, and a fourth series of blank sheetsadapted to receive additional or subsequently-occurring accounts andidentical with those of the third series, except cut back one stepfarther so as to expose the first indexed sheet beneath, and alsoprovided with identifying characters to distinguish them from eachother, substantially as specified.

8. The combination of two self-indexing loose-leaf ledgers or books, oneof which is an original and the other a transfer book each having aseparate series of blank sheets which are cut away so as to expose thesheet beneath them and the sheets of both books provided upon saidcut-away portions with correspond.- ing identifying characters, the saidoriginal book having also a third series of insert blank sheetsidentical in size and shape with those previously mentioned but devoidof an index, and a fourth series of blank sheets adapted to receiveadditional or snbsequently-occurring accounts and identical with thoseof the third series, except out back one step farther so as to exposethefirst indexed sheet beneath, and also provided with identifyingcharacters to distinguish them from each other, substantially asspecified.

9. The combination of two self-indexing loose-leaf ledgers or books, oneof which is an original and the other a transfer book each having aseparate series of blank sheets which are cut away so as to expose thesheets beneath them, and the sheets of both books provided upon saidcut-away portions with the first letter of the names to be indexed, andhaving a blank space adjacent thereto for additional characters, thesaid original book having also a third series of insert blank sheetsidentical in size and shape with those previously mentioned but devoidof an index, and a fourth series of blank sheets adapted to receiveadditional or subsequently-oecurring accounts and identical with thoseof the third series, except cut back one step farther so as to exposethe first indexed sheet beneath, and also provided with identifyingcharacters to distinguish them from each other, substantially asspecified.

10. The combination of two self-indexing loose-leaf ledgers orbooks, oneof which is an original and the other a transfer book each having aseparate series of blank sheets which are cut away so as to expose thesheets beneath them, and the sheets of both books provided upon saidcut-away portions with the first two letters of the names to be indexed,and having a blank space adjacent thereto for additional characters, thesaid original book having also a third series of insert blank sheetsidentical in size and shape with those pre viously mentioned but devoidof an index, and a fourth series of blank sheets adapted to receiveadditional or subsequently-occurring accounts and identical with thoseof the third series, except cut back one step farther so as to exposethe first indexed sheet beneath, and also provided with identifyingcharacters to distinguish them from each other, substantially asspecified.

11. The combination of two self-indexing loose-leaf ledgers or books,one of which is an original and the other a transfer book each having aseparate series of blank sheets which are cut away so as to expose thesheet beneath them, and the sheets of both books provided upon saidcut-away portions with the first three letters of the names to beindexed, and having a blank space adjacent thereto for additionalcharacters, the said original book having also a third series of insertblank sheets identical in size and shape with those previously mentionedbut devoid of an index, and a fourth series of blank sheets adapted toreceive ad ditional or subsequently-occurring accounts and identicalwith those of the third series, except cut back one step farther so asto expose the first indexed sheet beneath, and also provided withidentifying characters to distinguish them from each other,substantially as specified.

12. The combination of two self-indexing loose-leaf ledgers or books,one of which is an original and the other a transfer book each having aseparate series of blank sheets which are cut away so as to expose thesheet beneath them, and the sheets of both books provided with the firstthree letters of the names to be indexed, and having a blank spaceadjacent thereto for additional characters, a third series ofinsertblank sheets identical in size and shape with those previouslymentioned but devoid of an index, and a fourth series of blank sheetsadapted to receive additional or subse quently--occurring accounts andidentical with those of the third series, except cut back one stepfarther so as to expose the first indexsheet beneath, and also providedwith identifying characters to distinguish them from each other,substantially as specifiedj In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIMEON B. KIRTLEY.

\Vitnesses:

ALFRED A. Eioxs, JOHN C. HIGDON.

